Government loyalists and anti-government protesters have clashed in Yemen where rallies unfolded across the country on Wednesday. Witnesses say several people were injured in the southern town of Ibb when pro-government gunmen opened fire on demonstrators. The Associated Press says security forces and loyalists with sticks attacked a group of female protesters as they rallied […]
Palestinian President To Seek Full UN Membership, Calls for Protests
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for peaceful protests to support a September bid for full membership in the United Nations for a Palestinian state. Mr. Abbas met with the PLO Central Council Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah to discuss the proposal to seek membership in the world body. He urged what […]
Iran Says 23 Dead in Clash with Kurdish Rebels
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 12:30 pm (UTC-5)
Iran says a clash near the Iraqi border between its forces and Kurdish rebels has killed two Iranian Revolutionary Guards and 21 rebels. Iran’s state-run PressTV reported on Wednesday that the fighting in the city of Sardasht injured two other Revolutionary Guards. It alleged that rebels of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan have […]
Yemeni Militants Demand Ransom for Missing Aid Workers
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Al-Qaida-linked militants in Yemen are demanding a $12 million ransom for the release of three French aid workers who went missing in May. Yemeni security officials and tribesmen revealed the demand on Wednesday. The two women and one man disappeared in the eastern city of Sayoun, where they had been working with a French-based relief […]
Syria Activists: 11 Killed in Raid near Damascus
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
Human rights activists in Syria say security forces have killed at least 11 people during a sweep south of the capital, Damascus. The activists said troops also arrested at least 250 people during Wednesday’s raid in the town of Kanaker. They say residents threw stones and burned tires to try to stop the advancing troops, […]
Iraq Urges Kuwait To Stop Port Building
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 10:15 am (UTC-5)
Iraq has asked Kuwait to suspend work on a controversial megaport in the Persian Gulf due to concerns that it could hurt Baghdad’s shipping interests. Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh released a statement Wednesday saying his government has asked Kuwait to stop construction of the Mubarak Port on Bubiyan Island until it could assure Iraq that […]
Palestinian President Vows To Pursue Statehood Recognition
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday again vowed to seek United Nations membership for a proposed Palestinian state. He added that the bid is not an alternative to reopening negotiations with Israelis and restarting the Mideast peace process. Mr. Abbas met with Palestinian council members Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah to discuss […]
Activists Say Syrian Forces Kill 8 Near Damascus
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 7:10 am (UTC-5)
Human rights activists in Syria say security forces have killed at least eight people during a sweep south of the capital, Damascus. The activists said the raid happened Wednesday in Kanaker, where residents threw stones to try to stop the advancing troops. Rights groups say Syrian forces have killed at least 1,600 civilians during a […]
Britain Recognizes Libyan Opposition
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
Britain has officially expelled all diplomats from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s regime and recognized the opposition Transitional National Council as the country’s legitimate government. Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday the move is based on the opposition’s increasing legitimacy, competency and success in reaching out to Libyans across the country. He said Britain will deal […]
Iranian President Nominates Guards Commander for Oil Ministry Chief
Posted July 27th, 2011 at 6:00 am (UTC-5)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has nominated a Revolutionary Guards commander to head the nation’s oil ministry. Mr. Ahmadinejad on Wednesday named Rostam Qasemi to the lead the ministry, which has had a caretaker minister since June. The United States last year placed sanctions on Qasemi and four subsidiaries of a construction company he oversees for […]
